Think: Critical Thinking about Social Problems
Edition: 2
Copyright: 2027
Pages: 290
Edition: 2
Copyright: 2027
Pages: 290
Choose Your Format
The NEW Second Edition of Critical Thinking About Social Problems moves students beyond simply identifying society’s challenges to examining how and why social problems develop, persist, and affect everyday life. Using sociological theory, contemporary research, and critical-thinking strategies, the text encourages students to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, recognize bias, consider multiple perspectives, and connect individual experiences to larger social structures.
Designed for active learning, the second edition incorporates applied activities, critical-thinking exercises, puzzles, knowledge checks, and quizzes that give students opportunities to practice and assess their understanding. Accessible examples and real-world applications connect course concepts to issues students encounter in their communities, institutions, media, and daily lives.
For instructors, Critical Thinking About Social Problems provides a structured yet flexible foundation for exploring social issues while building critical-thinking skills throughout the course. Students leave with more than an understanding of social problems—they develop practical tools for asking better questions, evaluating information, analyzing arguments, and drawing informed conclusions in an increasingly complex world.
Module 1 Critical Thinking about Society
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
CRITICAL THINKING
Characteristics of Critical Thinking
How Critical Thinking Works
The Strength of Critical Thinking
Sociological Application 1.1
Core Critical Thinking Skills
Ethical Reasoning
Sociological Application 1.2
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 1.3
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 2 Sociological Analysis
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Sociological Application 2.1
Recognize and Mitigate Bias
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS
THEORETICAL PARADIGMS
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Emerging Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 2.2
SOCIAL RESEARCH Objective vs. Subjective Analysis
Scientific Method
Research Design
Sociological Application 2.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 2.4
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 3 Social Construction and Inequality
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Cultural Production and Social Power
SYSTEMS OF POWER
Economic Disparities and Marginalization
Socioeconomic Hardship
Food Inequities and Insecurity
Sociological Application 3.1
Racial and Ethnic Inequality and Discrimination
Racial Profiling and Immigration Policies
Race-neutral Rhetoric and the Voting Rights Act
Sociological Application 3.2
Gender-based Bias and Oppression
Beyond the Gender Binary
Pornographic Media and Sexual Exploitation
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 4 Structural Influences of History
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
HISTORY AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TRUTH
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 4.1
CONTROLLING HISTORICAL NARRATIVES
The Hidden Curriculum
THE MECHANISMS OF HISTORICAL ERASURE
Classified Archives: Redacting Files for “National Security”
Textbook Adoption Boards: Filtering Divisive Facts
Linguistic Sanitization: Using Euphemism
Algorithmic Erasure: Digital “Memory Holes”
Distorting the Truth: Misinformation and Historical Silencing
The Authorized Past: Propaganda and the Control of Collective Memory
Sociological Application 4.2
THE SOCIOLOGY OF HIDDEN HISTORIES
Power and the Archive
Book Burning and Libricide
Oral History vs. The Official Record
Oral History vs. The Official Record
THE ROOTS OF REVISIONISM
Erasure Through Renaming
Trending Topic 4.1
Combating Historical Erasure: The “Whistleblower”
Counter-Narratives and the Politics of Historical Authority
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 4.3
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 5 Social Health Issues
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
HEALTH ISSUES IN SOCIETY
The Cost of Healthcare
Big Pharma
Racial Disparities
Trending Topic 5.1
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 5.1
MENTAL HEALTH AND SYSTEMS OF INEQUALITY
Stigma and Social Construction
Parity and Access to Care
OBESITY IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
DRUGS AND ADDICTION
TRUST, MISINFORMATION, AND VACCINES
Trending Topic 5.2
Trending Topic 5.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 6 Structural and Systematic Barriers in Education
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION
Inequality in Education
Sociological Application 6.1
Theoretical Paradigms
CURRICULUM SUPPRESSION AND ERASURE
Hidden Architects of Modern Life
Trending Topic 6.1
Gender Disparities
Sociological Application 6.2
UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Funding
Segregation and Resegregation
Disability and Educational Disparities
The Digital Divide
College Tuition and the Burden of Debt
INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES, RESISTANCE, AND JUSTICE
Transformative Resistance and Pathways to Justice
Sociological Application 6.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
Sociological Application 6.4
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 7 Religion, Power, and Social Conflict
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
RELIGION AND SOCIETY
Religious Paradox
Theoretical Paradigms
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
DISCRIMINATION AND HATE CRIMES
Gender Inequality
Sexuality and LGBTQ+ Civil Rights
RELIGION AND EDUCATIONAL CONFLICT
Sociological Application 7.1
RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Sociological Application 7.2
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 8 Social Violence and Criminal Behavior
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL
STATE DEVIANCE
Declaration of War and Authorized Use of Military Force
Combat Drones
Sociological Application 8.1
Terrorism
Domestic Terrorism
Sociological Application 8.2
Genocide
Gaza (Israel-Hamas War)
Sudan (Darfur and the Civil War)
Executions
Prison Industrial Complex
PREDATORY DEVIANCE
Mass Shootings
Organizational and Systemic Abuse of Power
Elite Deviants
Modern Slavery
Forced Labor
Sex Trafficking
Sociological Application 8.3
Cybercrime
Privacy
Identity Theft and Fraud
Cyberbullying
Sociological Application 8.4
THEORETICAL ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 9 Social Innovation and Technology
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE
Trending Topic 9.1
DIGITAL AND NEW MEDIA
Depression and Social Isolation
Sociological Application 9.1
Misinformation and Deepfakes
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Algorithmic Bias
Trending Topic 9.2
Transhumanism
Sociological Application 9.2
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Critical Race Theory
Feminist Theory
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Vera Guerrero Kennedy was born and raised in San Joaquin Valley, California. She received a B.A. in sociology (1995) and M.P.A. in political science with an emphasis in public administration (1999) from Fresno State and a doctorate in education (Ed.D.) with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Argosy University (2012). She is certified by the National Grant Writers Association as a Senior Certified Grants Specialist and Certified Grants Reviewer.
Dr. Kennedy is a tenured faculty at West Hills College Lemoore and Lecturer at Fresno State. Her research publications include The Influence of Cultural Capital on Hispanic Student College Graduation Rates and Improving Undergraduate Student Understanding of Social Research through Service Learning. She serves on the Merlot Sociology Editorial Board and was an e-textbook reviewer in 2015 for the California OER Council (Cool4Ed). She was awarded West Hills Community College District Innovation Awards in 2015 and 2016 for her application of information, imagination, and initiative in transforming curriculum and instruction by integrating open education resources and e-devices.
Dr. Kennedy was invited to participate in the eScholars program at Fresno State (2012) to prepare and move beyond basic online course work by developing creative and engaging learning experiences for students. In 2010 she received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award and was recognized by the West Hills College Lemoore Team TEACH program as an All-star in Teaching. She received a Certificate of Recognition for the 7th Annual Outstanding Leadership Awards in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month from the California State Assembly (2005) for work in applied social research, organizational development, and capacity building in partnership with public and non-profit agencies.
Before teaching full-time, Dr. Kennedy worked as the Juvenile Justice Services Coordinator for the Fresno Superior Court and assisted in the establishment and facilitation of the Juvenile Mental Health Court for Fresno County. She owned and operated a private consulting firm for six years. From 1999– 2002, she served as the Associate Director for the Central California Center for Health and Human Services at Fresno State. Dr. Kennedy served on the Board of Directors for Comprehensive Youth Services, a child abuse prevention agency for eight years, and was appointed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Fresno County Foster Care Oversight Committee for six years. She also served as a member of the Fresno County Human Resources Advisory Board responsible for reviewing and recommending local grant funding administered by the County of Fresno.
She and her husband, Greg, reside in Fresno, California with their “fur” kids, Woofers and Osa.
The NEW Second Edition of Critical Thinking About Social Problems moves students beyond simply identifying society’s challenges to examining how and why social problems develop, persist, and affect everyday life. Using sociological theory, contemporary research, and critical-thinking strategies, the text encourages students to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, recognize bias, consider multiple perspectives, and connect individual experiences to larger social structures.
Designed for active learning, the second edition incorporates applied activities, critical-thinking exercises, puzzles, knowledge checks, and quizzes that give students opportunities to practice and assess their understanding. Accessible examples and real-world applications connect course concepts to issues students encounter in their communities, institutions, media, and daily lives.
For instructors, Critical Thinking About Social Problems provides a structured yet flexible foundation for exploring social issues while building critical-thinking skills throughout the course. Students leave with more than an understanding of social problems—they develop practical tools for asking better questions, evaluating information, analyzing arguments, and drawing informed conclusions in an increasingly complex world.
Module 1 Critical Thinking about Society
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
CRITICAL THINKING
Characteristics of Critical Thinking
How Critical Thinking Works
The Strength of Critical Thinking
Sociological Application 1.1
Core Critical Thinking Skills
Ethical Reasoning
Sociological Application 1.2
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 1.3
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 2 Sociological Analysis
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Sociological Application 2.1
Recognize and Mitigate Bias
UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS
THEORETICAL PARADIGMS
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Emerging Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 2.2
SOCIAL RESEARCH Objective vs. Subjective Analysis
Scientific Method
Research Design
Sociological Application 2.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 2.4
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 3 Social Construction and Inequality
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Cultural Production and Social Power
SYSTEMS OF POWER
Economic Disparities and Marginalization
Socioeconomic Hardship
Food Inequities and Insecurity
Sociological Application 3.1
Racial and Ethnic Inequality and Discrimination
Racial Profiling and Immigration Policies
Race-neutral Rhetoric and the Voting Rights Act
Sociological Application 3.2
Gender-based Bias and Oppression
Beyond the Gender Binary
Pornographic Media and Sexual Exploitation
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 4 Structural Influences of History
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
HISTORY AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TRUTH
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 4.1
CONTROLLING HISTORICAL NARRATIVES
The Hidden Curriculum
THE MECHANISMS OF HISTORICAL ERASURE
Classified Archives: Redacting Files for “National Security”
Textbook Adoption Boards: Filtering Divisive Facts
Linguistic Sanitization: Using Euphemism
Algorithmic Erasure: Digital “Memory Holes”
Distorting the Truth: Misinformation and Historical Silencing
The Authorized Past: Propaganda and the Control of Collective Memory
Sociological Application 4.2
THE SOCIOLOGY OF HIDDEN HISTORIES
Power and the Archive
Book Burning and Libricide
Oral History vs. The Official Record
Oral History vs. The Official Record
THE ROOTS OF REVISIONISM
Erasure Through Renaming
Trending Topic 4.1
Combating Historical Erasure: The “Whistleblower”
Counter-Narratives and the Politics of Historical Authority
SCENARIO QUIZ
Sociological Application 4.3
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 5 Social Health Issues
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
HEALTH ISSUES IN SOCIETY
The Cost of Healthcare
Big Pharma
Racial Disparities
Trending Topic 5.1
Major Theoretical Paradigms
Sociological Application 5.1
MENTAL HEALTH AND SYSTEMS OF INEQUALITY
Stigma and Social Construction
Parity and Access to Care
OBESITY IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
DRUGS AND ADDICTION
TRUST, MISINFORMATION, AND VACCINES
Trending Topic 5.2
Trending Topic 5.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 6 Structural and Systematic Barriers in Education
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION
Inequality in Education
Sociological Application 6.1
Theoretical Paradigms
CURRICULUM SUPPRESSION AND ERASURE
Hidden Architects of Modern Life
Trending Topic 6.1
Gender Disparities
Sociological Application 6.2
UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION
Funding
Segregation and Resegregation
Disability and Educational Disparities
The Digital Divide
College Tuition and the Burden of Debt
INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES, RESISTANCE, AND JUSTICE
Transformative Resistance and Pathways to Justice
Sociological Application 6.3
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
Sociological Application 6.4
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 7 Religion, Power, and Social Conflict
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
RELIGION AND SOCIETY
Religious Paradox
Theoretical Paradigms
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
DISCRIMINATION AND HATE CRIMES
Gender Inequality
Sexuality and LGBTQ+ Civil Rights
RELIGION AND EDUCATIONAL CONFLICT
Sociological Application 7.1
RELIGIOUS NATIONALISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Sociological Application 7.2
SCENARIO QUIZ
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 8 Social Violence and Criminal Behavior
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL
STATE DEVIANCE
Declaration of War and Authorized Use of Military Force
Combat Drones
Sociological Application 8.1
Terrorism
Domestic Terrorism
Sociological Application 8.2
Genocide
Gaza (Israel-Hamas War)
Sudan (Darfur and the Civil War)
Executions
Prison Industrial Complex
PREDATORY DEVIANCE
Mass Shootings
Organizational and Systemic Abuse of Power
Elite Deviants
Modern Slavery
Forced Labor
Sex Trafficking
Sociological Application 8.3
Cybercrime
Privacy
Identity Theft and Fraud
Cyberbullying
Sociological Application 8.4
THEORETICAL ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Module 9 Social Innovation and Technology
INTRODUCTION
PRE-QUIZ
GUIDED NOTES
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE
Trending Topic 9.1
DIGITAL AND NEW MEDIA
Depression and Social Isolation
Sociological Application 9.1
Misinformation and Deepfakes
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Algorithmic Bias
Trending Topic 9.2
Transhumanism
Sociological Application 9.2
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
Structural Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Critical Race Theory
Feminist Theory
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
MODULE QUIZ
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
REFERENCES
Vera Guerrero Kennedy was born and raised in San Joaquin Valley, California. She received a B.A. in sociology (1995) and M.P.A. in political science with an emphasis in public administration (1999) from Fresno State and a doctorate in education (Ed.D.) with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Argosy University (2012). She is certified by the National Grant Writers Association as a Senior Certified Grants Specialist and Certified Grants Reviewer.
Dr. Kennedy is a tenured faculty at West Hills College Lemoore and Lecturer at Fresno State. Her research publications include The Influence of Cultural Capital on Hispanic Student College Graduation Rates and Improving Undergraduate Student Understanding of Social Research through Service Learning. She serves on the Merlot Sociology Editorial Board and was an e-textbook reviewer in 2015 for the California OER Council (Cool4Ed). She was awarded West Hills Community College District Innovation Awards in 2015 and 2016 for her application of information, imagination, and initiative in transforming curriculum and instruction by integrating open education resources and e-devices.
Dr. Kennedy was invited to participate in the eScholars program at Fresno State (2012) to prepare and move beyond basic online course work by developing creative and engaging learning experiences for students. In 2010 she received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award and was recognized by the West Hills College Lemoore Team TEACH program as an All-star in Teaching. She received a Certificate of Recognition for the 7th Annual Outstanding Leadership Awards in Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month from the California State Assembly (2005) for work in applied social research, organizational development, and capacity building in partnership with public and non-profit agencies.
Before teaching full-time, Dr. Kennedy worked as the Juvenile Justice Services Coordinator for the Fresno Superior Court and assisted in the establishment and facilitation of the Juvenile Mental Health Court for Fresno County. She owned and operated a private consulting firm for six years. From 1999– 2002, she served as the Associate Director for the Central California Center for Health and Human Services at Fresno State. Dr. Kennedy served on the Board of Directors for Comprehensive Youth Services, a child abuse prevention agency for eight years, and was appointed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Fresno County Foster Care Oversight Committee for six years. She also served as a member of the Fresno County Human Resources Advisory Board responsible for reviewing and recommending local grant funding administered by the County of Fresno.
She and her husband, Greg, reside in Fresno, California with their “fur” kids, Woofers and Osa.